This recipe makes about 4 dozen depending on cookie size.

Ingredients:

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
  3. In mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and lemon peel.
  4. Beat in dry ingredients just until combined.
  5. Divide dough in half. Wrap tightly and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight (or until chilled).
  6. Grease cookie sheets. On floured surface, roll half the dough 1/4-inch thick.  Cut out shapes with floured cookie cutters.
  7. Transfer to prepared cookie sheets and bake 8 to 10 minutes, until edges are slightly golden (I tend to under-cook a little, cooking until set but not golden edges).

Variation: Cherry Delights

This past Christmas I decided to have some fun with this sugar cookie recipe. After the dough was combined, I added:

  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 1 cup pistachio pieces

Then:

  1. Stir the fruit and nuts gently into the dough.
  2. Divide the dough into two equal parts. Roll each into a log shape (about 2–3 inches in diameter) and then tightly in plastic wrap. Store logs in the refrigerator until chilled through.
  3. When ready to bake, slice 1/4-inch rounds and place on prepared baking sheet.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 10–12 minutes, or until lightly browned edges. Cool on a rack.

Dipping:

Once the cookies were cooled, I dipped 1/2 of each cookie in melted white chocolate. I used white chocolate chips that were melted in a double boiler. This method is simple:

  1. Place a glass bowl over boiling water. Make sure the glass bowl does not touch the water.
  2. Place chips in the bowl and stir to melt.
  3. Dip each cookie half-way into melted white chocolate and place on waxed paper to dry.

(Tip: you can add 1–2 drops red food coloring to the white chocolate to make “pink” for Valentine’s Day. Or, you can sprinkle red or pink candies onto dipped cookie.)